Forming machine and feeding device therefor



Feb. 12, 1946. G. o. coNNER FORMING MACHINE AND FEEDING DEVICE THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed ocx. 28, 1945 INVENTOR Guy 0 Con/7er' Feb. l2, 1946. G. o. coNNER 2,394,534 FORMING'- MACHINE AND FEEDING DEVICE THEREFOR Filed oct. 28, 194s 2 sheets-sheet a INVENTOR O Con/7er? Patented Feb. 12, 1946 FORMING MACHINE AND FEEDING DEVICE THEREFOR Guy O. Conner, Wheeling, W. Va.

Application October 28, 1943, Serial No. 507,936

(Cl. 164f89) 24 Claims.

This invention relates to forming machines and feeding devices therefor. It relates particularly to forming machines of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 497,792 and to feeding devices for feeding work through forming means or the like. The feeding devices are adapted for feeding Work through forming machines of the type mentioned or other forming machines.

In my said application there is disclosed a forming machine for high speed operation employing heads movable toward and away from each other and when closest together moving also laterally generally in the same direction for acting upon work fed between the heads. Such a machine may be used in various arts, as, for example, stamping, die forming, plastic molding, ceramic molding, extrusion, printing, etc.

The present invention has to do particularly with the feeding of Work passing through a forming machine. While the subject matter of the present application is illustrated as employed with a machine as disclosed in said application Serial No. 497,792, the invention is not so limited and, as above indicated, may be employed with other machines.

I provide a forming machine comprising opposed cooperating forming heads movable toward and away from each other and when closest together moving also laterally generally in the same direction and feeding means for feeding work between said heads, said feeding means comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads movable toward and away from each other and when closest together moving also laterally in the direction of lateral movement of the forming heads so as to feed the work in that direction. I also provide a feeding device for feeding work through forming means or the like comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads separate from the forming means or the like movable toward and away from each other and when closest together moving also laterally generally in the direction of feed and radapted to engage and ad- Vance the Work. At least one of the feeding heads partakes of orbital movement while maintaining substantially xed orientation. When I speak of a head as partaking of orbital movement while maintaining substantially fixed orientation I mean that the head maintains substantially fixed angular position yin its orbit.

Preferably the forming heads and feeding means act alternately on Work passing through the machine, the forming heads being relatively far apart While the feeding heads are relatively ling heads are relatively close together.

close together and the feeding heads being relatively far apart while the forming heads are relatively close together. Thus the feeding means feeds the work during the interval when the forming means is not acting`on it. When the forming means is acting on the work it controls the feed of the work and during that time the feeding means becomes temporarily inoperative.

The feeding means may be disposed either at the entering side or at the discharge side of the forming means, or both. Whatever may be the case in this respect, the forming heads and feeding heads are preferably so constructed and arranged that at any instant the feeding heads move in a direction substantially opposed to the direction of movement of the forming heads whereby the stresses in the machine due to operation of said heads are at least partially balanced.

Preferably at least one of the feeding heads has thereon a work engaging member adapted resiliently to engage the work and to be urged thereagainst during that portion of the cycle of movement of the feeding device when the feed- In certain of the structures shown in the drawings each of the feeding heads is provided with a Work engaging member of the type mentioned, the work engaging members being loosely carried thereon, and yieldable means are interposed between the head and the work engaging members I operate with a Work positioner on the forming means or the like whereby to insure highly accurate control of the work during the forming operation.

In certain instances I may employ only one feeding head movable toward and away from the work and also when closest to the work moving laterally in the direction of feed to advance the work. Such a head may be employed in combination with suitable means backing up the work and permitting the work to advance along with the head. For example, idler rollers may be used t0 back up the work opposite the feeding head. While such a structure does not have the efficiency of feeding devices having opposed heads as above referred to and is not adapted for as high speed operation, it is found satisfactory for' certain conditions of operation which may be encountered in practice.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodi ments thereof proceeds. i

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a Vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view through a forming machine;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view to enlarged scale through the machine shown in Figure'l taken on the ligne IIV-'II f that figure;

tric bushings I3 adapted to be slipped over the respective pins ll; Each of the bushings may be rotated in its head to a desired angular position and maintained in that position by set screws I4. By suitable rotative positioning of the eccentric bushings the clearance between the heads 2 and 3 when they are closest together may be determined. The shafts 4 have their eccentric pins ID similarly oriented relatively to the shaft axes andl also the eccentric bushings l2Y are similarly oriented so that upon rotation of the'shafts 4 Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal k v,the head 42 will while maintaining its orientation U be moved through a circular path. The same apcross-sectional View of a modified form of feeding device;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary Vertical longitudinal cross-sectional View through forming means Vfor use with the form ofV feeding device sho-wn in Figure 3; V- v Figure 5 is a diagrammatic View of a forming machine with feeding devices on both the entering side and the discharge side of the forming means;

Figure 6 isv a diagrammatic 'v iew of feeding means employing aV single rotary feeding head with icller rollers backing up the work opposite the head; andV Figure '7 is au vertical transverse cross-sectional View taken on the line VII-VII o-f Figure 6.

@Referring now more particularly tothe drawings, there is shown a forming machine of the samergeneral type as is disclosed in my said copending application, For the sake of clarity I haveromitted details of the portion o-f the machine which is concerned with operation of the formingy heads since the present invention is not concerned with such details. Referring to Figure l, the upper forming head is shown at 2 and the lower formingV headis shown at 3. Each of the heads is carriedV and operated by two'shafts which are drivenl in unison, such shafts having thereon eccentric means which impart to the heads'-v their operative movements. The upper head 2 is 'carriedby two shafts Land the lower head 3 Yis carried` by two shafts 5.- In the machine shown irl-the drawings the*v axes of the shaftsVv 4 lie inthe same horizontal plane and the axes'of the shafts 5A lie inA another horizontal plane; also each of the shaftsfll isr positioned directly above one of the shafts5, as shown inA Figurel 1. Both shafts 4 are driven in the same direction, i. e.,v clockwise viewing Figure l, at the same speedy and both shafts 5y are driven in the same. direction, i. e., counterclockwise viewing Figure l, at theisame speed as the shafts 4. This.

meshing `with two gears 8, one keyed toeach of the shafts 4, which gears 81 in Vturn respectively mesh. with gears 9', one keyed. to each shaft 5.

All. four ofithe gears 8 and 9 are ofthe same diameter'.

plies with respect to the lower head 3. Also the shafts 4 will ordinarily have their eccentric pins lil turned 180 from the corresponding positions of the eccentric pins on the shafts 5 and the eccentric bushingsfon all four pins will be arranged is nearest the axes of the shafts of the other' at` y the same time and the heads when closest to- Formed integrally. withY the forward endl ofv each. of the shafts# and' 5, i. e., the'end nearest Ythe-.eye Viewing Figure 1, is `an eccentric pin.

The eccentric pins on the shafts 4; are designated lGf andthe eccentric pins on the shafts 5 are designatedl Il. Each eccentric pin projects forwardly from the end of theV shaft which carries gether moving laterally inv the same direction,

i.v e., toward the, left Viewing Figure, l..

y In, the structure. shown in Figure 1 a die `l5 is.

connected with the upper head 2 by `screws I5 and the'die I'T is connected with the lower head 3 by screws I8. When the headsfcome'together the diesY act onwork positioned, therebetween, but during the interval while the dies are acting on the Work both the work andthe dies are moving laterally. The particular conformation of the Work engagingportions of the `dies forms no part of the present invention andthe dies may be. designed to perform any desired work. In Figure 1 the heads' 2; and 3 and the dies I5 and ll'are shown in` their farthest apart position. As they move toward eachother and toward` the. point of engagement with, the work they move also first toward the right and then towardthe left so. that at the point of maximum penetration of the work` they are Vin the same relative lateral position as shown in Figure 1. Y

The work feeding device shown, at the righthand side of Figure 1 and at. both the. `right and left-hand. sidesl of Figure. 5 is basically similar in structure-and motion to the forming. means which have been. described. The upper feeding head is shown at i9 andthe lower feeding headv at V2.0.

such shafts having thereon eccentric v means whichimpart to the heads their operative Ymove-V merits.k YThe. upper` feeding head i9; isrcarried-y by two shafts 2|. and thelower feeding. head20 is carriedgbyftwo shafts7422., In the feeding de-l viceshown inthe drawings theaXes of the shafts 21l-lie-in thersamehorizontal plane andthe axes of theshaf-ts 2,2 liein another horizontal plane; also each of the,l shafts 2l; ispositioned directly above one ofthey shafts 22A as shown in Figure l. Bothshafts. 2l are drivenin thelsame direction,

i. e.,V clockwise viewingr Figure l, at the same speedy, and bothshafts 22 are driven in the same y direction, i. e., counterclockwise viewingl Figure This driving ofthe; shafts 2|- and122 may be accomplished There is shown a shaft 23, tor

1.a`t the samespeed as the shaftsZl.

inv various,v ways. which is keyedY a gear 24; meshing with the gear Sgand'rdriven therefrom.Y Also; keyed to theshaft 2,31is;an pinion 2,5; pinion 2,6 carried by-,a shaft, 21".

Each` of the heads is carried and operated. by twov shafts. which. are driven in. unison,

The pinion 25, meshes:withy a The; pinion ze meshes with; a, gear, 2,3t keyed, to ha lefthand shaft 22 viewing Figure 1. A shaft 29 carries a gear 30 which meshes Withvthe gear 28. Keyed to the right-hand shaft 22 viewing Figure 1 is a gear 3|, which also meshes with the gear 30. A shaft 32 carries a gear 33 which is of the same diameter as and meshes with the gear 30. Keyed to the left-hand shaft 2| viewing Figure 1 is a gear 34 which meshes with the gear 33. Keyed to the right-hand shaft 2| viewing Figure 1 is a gear 35 which also meshes with the gear 33. The gears 28, 3|, 34 and 35 are all of the same diameter.

The gears for operating the forming means and those for operating the feeding device are proportioned so that the feeding device, which operates on the work as will presently be described, advances the Work through the formingr means at a speed approximately equal to the lateral speed (i. e., the speed in the horizontal direction toward the left viewing Figure 1) of the dies I and I'I when they are in their position of maximum penetration of the Work, or, in other words, when the forming heads 2 and 3 are closest together. The time cycle of the forming means is the same as the time cycle of the feeding device. However, as shown in Figure 1, the feeding heads I9 and 29 are farthest apart or approximately farthest apart when the forming heads 2 and 3 are closest together and vice versa. Thus the feeding device operates on the work to feed it during periods which alternate with periods during which the forming means operates on the work to form it. The feeding device feeds the work to the forming means and when the forming means engages the work it is disengaged by the feeding device so that at the time when the work is being operated on it is fed and controlled entirely by the forming means, the feeding device being then temporarily ineffective. The feeding device disclosed is adapted particularly for feeding strip as distinguished from separate blanks through the forming means and the work as shown in the drawings consists of a metal strip 36, although it will be appreciated that the mechanism is equally capable of operating upon materials other than metal.

Reverting to the mechanism for operating the feeding heads, each of the shafts 2| is provided with a crank 31 and each of the shafts 22 is provided with a crank 38. Each of the cranks 3l carries an eccentric 39 shown as of the split type fastened to the crank by a screw 40. an eccentric 4| is carried by each of the cranks 38. Each of the eccentrics is fastened tightly upon the crank which carries it. The upper feeding head I9 has two bores 42 which respectively receive the eccentrics 39 so that the eccentrics are rotatable therein, and the lower feeding head 29 has two bores'43 which respectively receive the eccentrics 4I so that the eccentrics are rotatable therein.

Each of the eccentrics 39 and 4| may be rotated on the crank on which it is mounted so as to assume a desired angular position and may be maintained in that position by the screw 49. By suitable rotative positioning of the eccentrics the clearance between the heads I9 and 20 when they are closest together may be determined. The shafts 2| have their cranks 3l similarly oriented relatively to the shaft axes and also the eccentrics 39 are similarly oriented so that upon rotation of the shafts the head I9 will, while maintaining its orientation, be moved through a Similarly, i

circular path. .The same applies with respect to`the lower'feeding head 2|I.` Alsoithe shafts 2| will ordinarily have their cranks 31 turned 180'. from the corresponding positions ofthe cranks 38 on the shafts 22 and the eccentrics on all four cranks will be arranged so thatin oper-- ation the upper and lower feeding heads partake of opposed synchronous movement,` approaching.

each other during the same interval, reaching their respective positions in which each is nearest the axes of the shafts of the otherat the same time and the heads whenclosest together moving laterally in the same. direction, i. e., vtoward the left viewing Figure 1.

Each of the heads I9 and 20 carries work engaging members adapted to engage the work and feed the same through the machine. TheV work engaging members in the form of structure shown in the drawings are in the form of pads 44 and 45. The upper pad 44 is connected with the upper feeding head I9 and the lower pad 45 is connected with the lower feeding head 20. Recesses 46 are formed in the lower surface of the head I9 and recesses 4'Iare formed in the uppery surface of the head 20. Bolts 48 enter the recesses 46 and are threaded into the head I9 at the bottoms of the recesses and bolts 49 enter the recesses 4l and are threaded into the head 20 at the bottoms of the recesses. The upper pad 44 is provided with recesses 50 and `the lower pad 45 is provided with recesses 5|. Bores 52 extend from the respective recesses 50 upwardly tothe upper surface of the pad 44 and bores 53 extend from the recesses 5| downwardly to the lower surface of the pad 45. The heads of the bolts 48 lie in the recesses 5I) and the bolts pass through the bores 52 and the heads of the bolts 49 lie in the recesses 5| and the bolts pass through the bores 53. The bores are 'somewhat larger in diameter than the bolts to permit relative movement between the pads and the bolts. A compression coil spring 54 surrounds each of the bolts 48 and enters the corresponding recess 46 and bears between the head I9 and the pad 44. 'A compression coil spring 55 surrounds each of the bolts 49 and enters the corresponding recess 41 and bears between the head 2|) and the pad 45. Threaded into the head I9 is a guide pin 56 and threaded into the head 20 is aA guide pin 51. These pins enter openings 58 and 59, respectively, in the pads 44 and 45 whereby the pads are guided for vertical movement. Movement of the ypads away from the respective heads to which they are connected is limited by the heads of the bolts 48 and 49. The springs normally urge the pads away from their heads and toward the work 36. The work passes through a tensioner 60 before entering the feeding device.

The feeding device operates as follows. While the pads 44 and 45 are out of contact with the work the work is being operated on by the forming means and is simultaneously being fed or` advanced by the forming means. As the forming means releases the work upon each cycle of operation the heads I9 and 20 are moving toward each other and toward the work. As the heads I9 and 20 approach the position in which they are closest together the pads 44 and 45, which are maintained away from their respective heads by the springs 54 and 55, engage the work and during continued rotation of the shafts 2| and 22 the i springs are compressed, pressing the pads against mehr by the guide; pins. 5.a. and te. .Asme heads;

t9 and 20 pass: the position in which theyV are.

closest together and begin to move apart the springs 54 and 55 expand, maintaining. thee pads. 44v and 45; in contact with the-Work until the heads of the bolts 48 and. 49, engage the bottomsof the recesses 50 and 5|, when the pads are-.withdrawn from; contact with the work.. Atv about this same time the forming means contacts the work and. continues the feeding-movement of. the Work during. the forming; operation. The length of time during. which the pads 44 and; 45 are in contact interruptions inthe form shownbeing openingsY or perforations through thework; they may, however, be in the nature of embossings or other sur.-v face interruptions. To insure the. proper opera.- tion of the dies 6| and 62 the heads lila, and. 20a engage. the pads 44a and 45a., respectively, when. the pads are. in engagement with the. Work 36aas shown in Figure 3. Thus the dies 6l and (52 are. operated positively by the heads which directly engage the pads carrying the dies; and during the. time When the heads are: in engagement. with the pads the springsv 54a andv 55a arev fully Vcompressed and; temporarilyinoperative.. The metal removedA bythey dies 6 I` and $2; passes, down througha passageway 6.3 and may drop into any suitable recep-A tacle.

. The purpose of forming the surface'interruptions in thevvorkby'the: dies 6II and'ziis so that when the work is acted on by the formingv means; the. surface interruptionsv may serve to cooperate with work positioning means to insure highly accurate positioning of the work duringl the formingv operation. The dies .6 I' and 6.2 mamas. above indicated, be embossing. dies and. simply emboss. the Work'instead of forming; openings all thevvay through itv and the embossings may likewiselbe used to receive the positioning means. j;

In'-Y Figure 4 is shown a portion of forming meansA for use with the work Aprovided with the openings; as shown in Figure 5;.A The upper: head 555 in the lower head; The upper head furthercarries position-ing. pins 66 Aadapted` to enter the openings in the work formed bythe dies- E! and G2 of Figure 3*. Thus when the Lforming means of Figure 4. operates onthe work fed byA the feeding device of Figure 3 the work is: very accurately positioned by the forming means through thefentrancer of. the pin (ity into the: openings inthe work during the forming operation. Y f Y In Figures 6 and 7 there is 'showna feeding; device employing onlyfa single rotary feeding head lhI which may beidentical in sti-'ucturel and operation withthe head i9. Opposed tothe `head i911 isa series. of idler rollers til-'which underlie.l the; Work'andwhichcooperate with the head 19h position-ing and advancingthe` Work.

; claims.,

Y the opposed feeding head andmoves generally` feeding impetusycomes.- entire-ly from the hea-dl 9h,

accesar Vwork; As the; work is advanced by the head; 1912.-

the lollersl turn under .the influence lof the work. so as. to reduce the friction on the work. The

structure of Figures 6 and 'l is lesseflicient than. other structures herein'. disclosed and is not adapted for as high speed. operation but is found.

satisfactory for certain conditions of operation encountered in practice.

Details ofthe mechanism not essential to. the

features of the invention. of thev present. application are not described` at length herein but are disclosedin :my said copending application Seria-l No. 497,792. Y Y, l While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention it isy to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise vari-v ously embodied within the scoper of the following I. claim i v l l. A. feeding device for feeding work through kforming means or the like comprising opposed.

cooperating feeding heads separate" from the forming means 'or the like and eccentric means on which at least one of the feeding heads is mountedand for operating the same whereby that feeding head. moves generally in an .orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially Xed orientation and when closest to the Work engages the work, presses it against in the direction work.

2. A feeding device for feeding work through forming means or the like comprising opposed co'- operating feeding heads separatefrom the forming means or the like and eccentric means on which each of the feeding heads. is mounted and for operating the same whereby each feeding head moves generally in an orbit adjacent. the path of the Work while maintaining substantially fixed of feed,v whereby to advance the head and moves generally in the direction of -v feed, whereby to advance the work.

3. A feeding device for feeding work Vthrough forming means or the like comprising' opposed .y l

cooperating feeding Aheads separate from the formingv means or the like and eccentric meansl on which at least one of the feeding heads ismounted and Vfor operating the same whereby that feeding head moves generally in an orbit, ad-jacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially fixed orientation and when closest 5 tothe work engages the work, presses it againstr the opposed feeding head and moves generally in the direction of feed, whereby to advance the Work, at least one of the feeding heads having work engaging means adapted resiliently to en'- gage the work and to be urged thereaga-inst during advancement thereof. j

4. A feeding device for feeding Work throughV adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially fixed-orientation and when closest to the work engages the work, presses it against the opposed feeding head andjmoves ygenerally in the direction of'feed, whereby tov advance the.

work, each ofthe feeding heads, having Work en'k gaging means adapted `resilient-ily toengage the work and to be urged thereagainst during advancement thereof.

5. A feeding device for feeding work through forming means or the like comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads separate from the forming means or the like and eccentric means on which one of the feeding heads is mounted and for operating the same whereby that feeding head moves generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially fixed orientation and when closest to the work engages the work, presses it against the opposed feeding head and moves generally in the direction of feed, whereby to advance the work, the opposed feeding head comprising anti-friction means engaging the work opposite the first mentioned feeding head.

6. A feeding device for feeding work through forming means or the like comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads separate from the forming means or the like and eccentric means on which one of the feeding heads is mounted and for operating the same whereby that feeding head moves generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially xed orientation and when closest to the work engages the work, presses it against the opposed feeding head and moves generally in the direction of feed, whereby to advance the work, the opposed feeding head comprising anti-friction means engaging the work opposite the rst mentioned feeding head, the first mentioned feeding head having work engaging means adapted resiliently to engage the work and to be urged thereagainst during advancement thereof.

7. A feeding device for feeding work through forming means or the like comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads separate from the forming means or the like and means for operating each of said feeding heads whereby it moves generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially Xed orientation and when closest to the work engages the work in such manner as not to substantially deform the work, presses it against the opposed feeding head and moves generally in the direction of feed, whereby to advance the work.

8. A feeding device Vfor feeding work through forming means or the like comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads separate from the forming means or the like, eccentric means on which at least one `of the `feeding heads is mounted and for operating the same whereby that feeding head moves generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially fixed orientation and when closest to the work engages the work, presses it against the opposed feeding head and moves generally'in the direction of feed, whereby to advance the work, at least one of the feeding heads loosely carrying work engaging means, and spring means between said head and said work engaging means for urging said work engaging means toward the Work.

9. A feeding device for'feeding work through forming means or the like comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads separate from the' forming means or the like, eccentric means on which at least one of the feeding heads is mounted and for operating the same whereby that feeding head moves generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially fixed orientation and when closest to the work engages the work, presses it against the opposed'feeding head and moves generally in the direction of feed, whereby to advance the work, at least one of the feeding heads having movably mounted thereon work engaging means adapted to engage the work during that portion of the cycle of movement of the feeding device when the feeding heads are relatively close together, and guide means for guiding the work engaging means in movements toward and from said head.

10. A forming machine comprising, in tandem, forming means and a feeding device for feeding work through the forming means, the

feeding device comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads, and eccentric means on which at least one of the feeding heads is mounted and for operating the same whereby that feeding head moves generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially fixed orientation and when closest to the work engages the work, presses it against the opposed feeding head and moves generally in the direction of feed, whereby to advance the work.

11. A forming machine comprising, in tandem, a forming device comprising opposed cooperating forming heads, means for operating at least one of said forming heads whereby it moves generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially fixed orientation, a feeding device for feeding Work through the forming device, the Vfeeding device comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads, and eccentric means on which at least one of the feeding heads is mounted and for operating the same whereby that feeding head moves-generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially xed orientation and when closest to the work engages the work, presses it against the opposed feeding head and moves generally in the direction of feed, whereby to advance the work, said forming heads being relatively far apart while said feeding heads are relatively close together and said feeding heads being relatively far apart while said forming heads are relatively close together.

l2. A forming machine comprising, in tandem,

a forming device comprising opposed cooperating forming heads, means for operating each of said forming heads whereby it moves generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially fixed orientation, a feeding device for feeding work through the forming device, the feeding device comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads, and means for operating each of said feeding heads whereby it moves generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially fixed orientation and when closest to the work engages the work, presses it against the opposed feeding head and moves generally in the direction of feed, whereby to advance the work, said forming heads being relatively far apart while said feeding heads are relatively close together and said feeding heads being relatively far apart while said forming heads are relatively close together.

13. A forming machine comprising, in tandem, a forming device comprising opposed cooperating forming heads, means for operating at least one of said forming heads whereby it moves generally in an orbit adjacent the path of the work while maintaining substantially fixed, orientation, a feeding device for feeding work through the forming device, the feeding device comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads, and eccentric means 011. which at least one of the feeding heads is Ytogether and said feeding heads being relatively far apart while said forming heads are relatively close together, at least one of the feeding heads having work engaging means adapted resiliently 'to engage the work and to be urged thereagainst during advancement thereof. Y

14. kA feeding device for feeding work through Y forming means or the like comprising opposed `cooperating feeding heads separate from theV forming means or the like movable toward and away from eachother and moving also laterally generally in the direction of feed and adapted to engage and advance the work, said feeding heads having means forming in the work surface interruptions to cooperate with work positioning means on the forming means or the like.

l5.-A feeding device for feeding work through forming means or the like comprising opposed Y cooperating feeding heads separate from the forming means or the like movable toward and away from each other and when closest together vmoving also laterally generally in the direction of feed and adapted to engage and advance the work, said feeding heads having means forming in the work openings to receive work positioning means 'on the forming means orY the like, atleast Aone of said feeding heads having thereon work engaging means adapted resiliently to engage the work and toV be urged thereagainst during that portion of the cycle of movement of the feeding device whenthe feeding heads are relatively close together, said feeding head pressing directly against said work engagingV means when the heads are lclosest together to insure operation of lsaid opening forming means.

16. A forming machine comprising opposed cooperating forming 'heads movable toward and away from each other and when Vclosest together moving also laterally generallyY in the same direction, at least one of said forming heads having Vguidi-ng means adapted to enter previously formed openings in the work, and feeding `means comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads lmovable toward and vaway from each other and when closest together moving also laterally generally in` 'the direction of feed, said feeding meanshaving means forming in the work said openings to receive lsaid guiding means.

17. A forming machine vcomprising opposed cooperating forming heads at least one of which is movable toward and away from the other between which work is adapted to be fed, at least rone of said forming heads having guiding meansl adapted to cooperatively engage lsurface interruptions lin the worlaand feeding means feeding work `between said forming heads, 'sai-d feeding means having means forming in the work Asaid openings to receive said guiding means.

"18. A vforming machine comprising opposed co-l operating forming heads Ybetween which work is adapted to be fed, at least one of said forming heads having guiding means adapted to enterL previously formed openings in the work, and feeding means feeding work between said forming heads, said feeding means comprising cooperating lfeeding heads adapted to engage and advance the work, atleast one `of said feeding heads having' thereon work engaging means adapted yieldingly to engage the work, said feeding Imeans .having means forming in the work said openings to receive said guiding means, said feeding head pressing directly against said Work engaging means when the heads are yclosest togetherrto insure operation of said opening forming means.

19. A forming machine comprising opposed cooperating forming heads movable toward .and

away from each other and when closest together moving also laterally Ygenerally in the same direction and feeding means for feeding work between said heads, said feeding means comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads movable toward and'away from eachother and when closest. together moving also laterally generally in theldirection of feed, the forming 'heads and feeding heads 'being so constructed and arranged that at any instant the feeding heads move in a direction substantially opposed to the direction of movement of the forming heads whereby the stresses in the machine due to operation of said heads are at least partially balanced.

20. A forming machine comprising forming means having opposed cooperating forming heads movable toward andfaway from each other and when closest together moving also laterally generally in the same direction Aand feeding means at both the entering side and the discharge side of the forming means for feeding work between said heads, said feeding means comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads movable toward and away from each other and when closest together moving also laterally generally inthe direction of feed, the forming heads and feeding heads being so constructed and arranged that at any instant the feeding heads move in a direction substantialy opposed to the direction of movement of the forming heads whereby the stresses inthe machine due to Voperation of said heads are at least partially balanced.

l21.l A forming machine comprising opposed col the work, at least one of said work-engaging` means beingmounted so as vto yieldingly engageY Vthe Work, said feeding Imeans having meansformf ing in the work said openings to receive Ysaid guiding means, and means` pressing directly against said one of said work-engaging means when the heads are closest together to insure 0peration of said opening yforming means.

' 22. A feeding devicefor feeding workvthrough Y Vforming means or the like comprising'opposed work engaging means adapted to engage the work at opposite lfaces thereof, said means vat one face only of the work'being guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation, orbita-lly movable toward and away from the work andwhen closest 'to the work engagingthe-work and pressing it against said means -at the opposite face of the work and advancing the work in the directionof feed, said Ameans at the opposite `face of the vwork positioning the work While it .is ads vancedby said movable means. Y s

'23. A feeding device for feeding work :through forming means yor the like comprising opposed Work engaging means adapted to engage the rwork at opposite faces thereof, vsaid means Yat 'onefface 24. A feeding device for feeding work through x0 forming means or the like comprising opposed cooperating feeding heads movable toward and away from each other and moving also laterally generally in the direction of feed and adapted to n engage and advance the Work, said feeding heads having means forming in the Work surface interruptions to cooperate with work positioning means on the forming means or the like.

GUY O. CONNER. 

